A viral Reddit post has brought Zepto, a popular quick-commerce platform, into the spotlight, raising questions about transparency in e-commerce pricing. The post highlighted confusing billing practices, prompting a flood of reactions from users online.
Bill Breakdown
The controversy began when a Reddit user shared a checkout screenshot, showing a puzzling series of calculations:
- Items Purchased:
- 2 packs of Amul Taaza Toned Fresh Milk at ₹112 each.
- An Ambrane Type C to Type C Cable discounted to ₹19 from ₹499.
- Charges and Deductions:
- Initial total with GST: ₹611.31.
- Final bill: ₹145.29, after a claimed saving of ₹554.01.
- Handling charge: ₹11.99, reduced from ₹27.99.
- Promo voucher deduction: ₹100.
- Rain fee, processing fee, and delivery fee: ₹0.
Despite these details, users pointed out discrepancies in the claimed savings and handling charges, accusing Zepto of inflating discounts while masking additional fees under vague labels.
Community Reactions
The post unleashed a wave of sarcastic and critical comments:
- “They make you feel like you are stealing deals, but it is all clever marketing.”
- “Next, they will charge sunlight fees in summer!”
- “App delete kar de bhai.”
Some users speculated that hidden charges were embedded within the “item total and GST” section, while others criticized Zepto for creating unnecessary confusion to make discounts seem larger than they were.
Past Controversies
This is not Zepto’s first encounter with controversy. Earlier in the week, an Instagram user revealed discriminatory pricing between Android and iPhone platforms. For instance, 500 grams of grapes cost ₹65 on Android but a staggering ₹146 on an iPhone.
Conclusion
Zepto’s billing practices have drawn widespread scrutiny, with users questioning their accuracy and fairness. While the platform advertises significant savings, its complex billing has led to concerns about trust and transparency. Moving forward, quick-commerce platforms must prioritize clear and honest pricing to maintain customer loyalty.
